Florida’s Walton County Sheriff’s Office is now part of a federal initiative that lets local deputies take on immigration-related duties, aligning with the current administration’s efforts to broaden such partnerships. Known as 287(g), the program has been around for three decades and permits officers to question people about their immigration status, gather evidence, and carry out arrests tied to immigration violations.
Oscar D'Lassalas, a sergeant who leads a SWAT unit, became a certified officer under the program last year. His path to certification involved 40 hours of online instruction, a format that was recently streamlined by the administration. Previously, the training required a full month of in-person attendance, which had discouraged some agencies from signing up. D'Lassalas described the training as “just another way to help out as much as I can in my community.”
The scope of the county’s involvement is limited, according to Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “We're certainly not out doing immigration raids. That's not what we do,” he said. “But if we come across those individuals who are committing a crime or endangering someone else, in the state of Florida, then we're certainly going to do that.”
Advocates for immigrant rights, however, are wary of the arrangement. Sam Lester, an attorney with the ACLU of Florida, argued that immigration enforcement here operates “much more under the radar and in many ways more insidious” than in other parts of the country. He pointed out that most immigration enforcement in Florida is carried out by local and state officers who have been deputized through 287(g). Lester also criticized the training as inadequate, saying it has led to situations where Latino U.S. citizens and green card holders who speak with accents are stopped, questioned about their status, and in some cases taken into custody.
D'Lassalas pushed back against the notion that he would profile anyone. “Being pulled over by a trooper and he starts asking me just for my status simply because of my complexion. I think that's unfair to ask,” he said. Adkinson stressed that the office values professionalism and respect, adding, “There's a big difference between what you can do and what you should do.”
No other state has more local agencies participating in 287(g) than Florida. According to the Florida Sheriffs Association, every one of the state’s 67 counties had signed cooperation agreements with ICE by the end of last year.
Financial incentives have played a role in expanding the program. Walton County entered into a separate arrangement with ICE last year to reserve 48 jail beds for holding immigrant detainees up to 72 hours, with the federal government reimbursing the county $72 per inmate daily. Additionally, the state awarded the sheriff’s office more than $9 million in grants this summer for its role as an ICE holding site.
The county itself is a mix of rural and affluent areas, situated on the Florida Panhandle. Its economy depends heavily on immigrant workers in construction and tourism, with the northern section remaining agricultural and the southern coast drawing wealthy residents. The sheriff’s office is based in DeFuniak Springs, roughly between those two zones.
In describing his daily routine, D'Lassalas said he checks names against local and national databases during traffic stops to see if there are any outstanding warrants, including those related to immigration. He emphasized that he never presumes someone’s immigration status and doesn’t ask for it when collecting identification. If no warrant exists, “I'll cut them loose,” he said. But when a warrant does come up, “I have no discretion. I have to take them to jail.”
Civil rights lawsuits have accused the program of enabling racial profiling and straining local budgets. While the sheriff’s office insists its methods are respectful and professional, many immigrant workers in the area remain anxious about what might happen to them.